As Colombians we were less than amused when we found in one of the most frequented social media (twitter) a photo-shopped picture (meme) posted by Mrs. Nicolette Van Dam insulting not just two Colombian soccer players but a whole country. The reason we are submitting this petition to UNICEF is because in the same twitter account she used to insult Colombia, she claims herself to be a UNICEF Ambassador.

In the picture, two players from the Colombian National Soccer Team are portrayed “snorting” the white substance that the referee sprays onto the field to designate the 10-yard free kick distance, making reference to cocaine consumption with a caption saying “Colombian Barrier”.

After hours of negative twitter feedback from people in Colombia and messages asking her to retract her comments, Mrs. Van Dam submitted a half-hearted apology to all Colombians.

The intent of this letter is to request to you on behalf of one of the countries where UNICEF has always been encouraged and welcome, to SUSPEND PERMANENTLY Mrs. Nicole Van Dam from your Ambassador list.

If the mission of UNICEF is caring for the kids in the most needy countries, the vision of the company should be clear in the fact that “well-being” is not just a house and bed to sleep, or a warm dish of food, but also a safe environment where race, ethnicity, culture, religion, and sexual orientation of all people MUST be respected.

Colombian children deserve to grow up without being stigmatized by the mistakes of a few greedy drug traffickers who (in the 80’s and 90’s) put an entire nation in jeopardy through ruthless violence while cultivating a culture of fear. The Colombian people fiercely condemn all aspects of the drug cartels which directly oppose the values and customs of which they are most proud.

Last but not least, Mrs. Van Dam chose the World Cup, an event where countries celebrate brotherhood and international unity, to cast a negative light on a country that welcomes and celebrates people of all nations.

I can ensure to you that Colombians everywhere celebrated every Netherlands victory and would never stereotype the entire Netherlands population for the comments of Mrs. Van Dam. We just want the same respect in return.

With our deepest respect, we signed this petition and believe UNICEF should set a point in favor of UNIFICATION and not DISCRIMINATION.